Table.



G. D. TOLMAN.

TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1914.

1, 1 18,704. Patented Nov. 24. 1914,

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TABLE.

APPLICATION mum MAY 4, 1914.

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A ITOR/VEYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHQ, WASH/N670, I). C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAYGER DANIEL TOL'MAN, OFOSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN STARR CLARK.

TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914;.

Application filed May 4, 1914. Serial No. 836,126.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GAYcnR D. TOLMAN, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in tables of the folding type, and has for its object to provide a table of the character specified, wherein the supporting legs are foldable closely upon the body of the table to permit the table to be stored in small space,

- and wherein mechanism is provided for holding the legs in extended position firmly and rigidly to provide for a rigid table.

' In the drawings :-F:igure 1 is a perspective view of the improved table, looking from below, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan. view, with the legs folded, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section with the legs open, Fig. 4: is a similar view with the legs closed, Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the connection betweenthe braces and the legs, with the parts unfolded, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig.4.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the table comprises a top 1 of suitable dimensions, which is provided on its under face intermediate its ends with a cross bar or brace 2, and at each end witha similar bar or brace 3, the braces 3 being spaced apart from the adjacent ends of the table as shown.

The ends of the table are supported by pairs of legs. The legs 4 at each end are arranged in crossed relation as shown, and the legs in the present instance are rounded except at their upper ends and intermediate their ends. Each of the legs is square at its upper end as shown at 4 and intermediate its ends as shown at 4", and the upper ends of each pair of legs are connected by a cross pieceor bar 5. The squared portions 4 are at the intersection of the legs, and they may be connected at this point in any desired manner as for instance by mortising each leg and fitting the mortised faces together. The lower ends of the legs are beveled as shown at 6, to rest smoothly and evenly upon the supporting surface of the table, and the cross bar 5 of each pair of legs is hinged to the adjacent bar 3, as indicated at 7. In the present instance, ordinary hinges are used, one leaf being secured to the inner face of the bar 3 and the other leaf to the inner face of the bar 5.

An inclined brace 8 is arranged between each pair of legs and the cross bar 2. Each of the braces 8 is hinged at its lower end to the adjacent pair of legs at their intersec tion as indicated at 9, the connection being an ordinary hinge having one leaf secured to the end of the brace and the other to the legs at their intersection. The other end of each brace 8 is adaptedto engage the ad jacent side edge of thecross :bar 2, and the said other ends. of the brace are beveled to fit smoothly against the said side edges. The lower or outer end of each brace is also beveled, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6, to fit smoothly against the intersection of the legs. The braces 8 are of such length that when the legs are perpendicular to the table top, the braces will extend from the intersection of the legs to the cross bar, and will hold the legs against swinging movement inwardly. A. coil spring 10 is arranged beindicated at 12, and the other end of each rod is threaded as shown at 13. and is passed through a slot 14 in an angle plate connected to the opposite pair of legs from the connection of the rod. v

Each angle plate consists of two portions 15 and 15, arranged at a right angle with respect to each other, the portion 15 of each angle plate being secured to the outer faces of the legs at their intersection by means of screws 16' or the like. The slot 1 1 of each angle plate extends from near the outer end of one arm to near the outer end of the other arm, and a wing nut 17 engages the threaded portion of each rod outside of the portion 15 of the angle plate.

A collar 18 encircles the rod between the wing nut and the angle plate. Each rod is connected with the cross bar 3 at one end of the table, and with a pair of legs at the opposite end. l

A guide 19 in the form of a channel bar is provided for the free end of each brace.

Each of the guides 19 is arranged on the.

under face of the table top on the side of the cross bar 3 adjacent to the brace, and the free end of the brace slides in the channel bar. each other to receive the braces, and during the opening of the table the free ends of the braces will ride over the cross bar and drop into the guides.

The operation of the improved table is as follows :-VVith the parts in the position of Figs. 1 and 3, when it is desired to fold the table, the inner ends of the braces 8 are disengaged from the cross bar 2, and to permit this disengagement the wing nuts 17 are turned outwardly to permit the legs to swing outwardly far enough to disengage the brace. The legs are then folded'on to the under face. of the table top as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the braces 8 folding'along side each other, as do also the rods 11.

To set up the table, the procedure is reversed, the legs being swung into a position perpendicular to the table top in succession. As each pair of legs is swung outwardly the brace connected to the pair is. engaged with the cross bar 2. It is not necessary to place the braces 8, the springs 1O swinging the braces into position as the legs are'unfolded. After the braces are engaged with the cross bar 2, the wing nuts 17 are turned inwardly until they engage the outer faces of the portions 15 of the angle plates. The table is now braced against movement in either direction, the braces 8 holding the table in one direction, while the links or rods 11' hold it in the other direction.

It will be evident that the improved table consists of a top, having supporting legs hinged to its ends for swinging movement into superposed position beneath the top or to position perpendicular to the top, together with braces arranged between the top and each pair of legs for preventing swinging movement of the legs in either direction. 7

A table constructed in accordance with the invention is exceptionally strong, while at the same time it may be easily set up or knocked down. When knocked down, the table occupies but little space and a num ber of tables maybe stored in very small compass. The spring 10 acts-to hold the braces in the position shown. in Figs. 1 and 3, and when the legsar-e folded onto the table top as shown in Fig.2, the springs are placed under tension. The springs act to swingthe legs into unfolded position and alsoswise' th twe t-9 hsldih ie sea The guides are offset laterally from position. When the legs are unfolded the rods 11 are in that portion of the slot 14 which is in the portion 15 of the angle plate, while when the legs are folded the rod is in that portion of the slot at the portion 15 By providing an angle plate, there is no binding on the rod and the parts move freely with respect to each other.

I claim 1. A table comprising a top, cross bars arranged transversely of the under face of the table near each end and intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of rigidly connected legs at each end of the table, each pair of legs being crossed and having a rigid connection at their upper'ends, a brace arranged between each pair of legs and the intermediate cross bar, each brace being hinged at its outer end to the legs at their intersection and bearing at its inner end against the ad jacent side edge of the cross bar, a spring arranged between each brace and the table top and acting normally to hold the free end of the brace in engagement with the cross bar, a rod' hinged to the inner edge of each cross bar and extending beyond the intersection of the opposite pair of legs, a

longitudinally slotted angle plate connected to each pair of legs at the intersection thereof and on the outer face of the legs, the

adjacent end of each rod passing through the slot of the angle plate, and a nut threaded onto each'rod.

2. A table comprising a top, a pair of rigidly connected legs at each end of the table for supporting the same and hinged to the table to fold inwardly upon the same and at right angles thereto, a cross bar secured transversely of the table top intermediate the ends thereof, a rigid brace hinged to each pair of legs intermediate the ends of the legs and engaging at its inner end the adjacent face of the cross bar, a rod pivoted to each end'of the table at the hinged connection of the adjacent pair of legs, a longitudinally slotted angle plate secured to each pair of legs at approximately the center thereof, the adjacent end of the opposite rod passing through the. slot, a nut threadedon to the end of the rod outside of the angle plate,-a spring arranged between each brace and the adjacent end of the table, each spring being connected to the table at the connection of the adjacent pairof legs and tothe brace at a point that will place the springs under tension when the. legs are folded on the top. I 4

3. A table comprising a top, a pair of rigidly connected legs ateach end of the table for supporting the same and hinged to the tableto fold inwardly upon the same and y the legs and engaging at its inner end the adjacent face of the cross bar, a rod pivoted to each end of the table at the hinged connection of the adjacent pair of legs, a longitudinally slotted angle plate secured to each pair of legs at approximately the center thereof, the adjacent end of the opposite rod passing through the slot, a nut threaded on to the end of the rod outside of the angle plate, and a spring connected With each pair of legs and acting normally to unfold the egs.

4:. A table comprising a top, a pair of rigidly connected legs at each end of the table for supporting the same and hinged to the table to fold inwardly upon the same and at right angles thereto, a cross bar secured Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the GAYGER DANIEL TOLMAN.

Witnesses:

R. L. CLARK,

K. E. BAnDnN.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

